Circuit tester



M y 19 1953 E. DES RQCHES 2339 1518 CIRCUIT TESTER Filed Feb. 12, 1951 wuwsw'ron EMILE DES ROCHES Patented May 19, 1953 CIRCUIT TESTER Einile Des Roche's; Vancouver, British .Goliimbia;

'Canad A pii'cation'i etruar 12, 1951; sens-l no. 210361 4.- Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in circuit testers.

The objects of the invention are to provide a device which will greatly expedite the task of locating a break in any electric circuit; to provide a device which will give visual indication of such a break and to provide a device which will allow electrical contact to be made to a wire without the necessity of removing or seriously damaging the insulation thereon.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a view showing the invention in use in testing a circuit.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each figure.

The numeral l indicates a casing of dielectric material having a cylindrical recess 2 and a closed end 3. Extending from the closed end 3 is a p-IOng or contact member 5 which is suitably insulated as at G and may be shaped at its lower end to provide a screw drive blade I. Intermediate its length the member 5 is provided with a transverse notch 9 and said member is drilled from the upper end through to said notch to provide a central bore Ii. slidably mounted in the bore II is a rod M which is provided at its upper end with a flange I5 and is pointed at its lower end as at It. A spring l8 surrounds the rod Hi beneath the flange l5 and serves to hold said rod in retracted position, so that the point 16 leaves the notch 9 unobstructed.

A metallic socket 2B is slidably mounted in the recess 2 of the casing I and is provided with a central opening 2|. A lamp bulb: 23 is received in the opening 2i with one of its contacts 24 extending therethrough to bear against the flange i5 of the rod M. Above the socket 2n the casing l is fitted with a plunger or cap 25 of dielectric translucent or transparent material which encloses the lamp bulb 23 and is retained within the recess 2 by means of a split ring 26.

A length of wire 28 extends through a suitable opening in the casing I and is secured to the socket 20 by means of a screw 29. The free end of the wire 28 is fitted with a contact member 31?, the lower end of which may be in the form of a socket type screw driver 3!.

In using the tester to test a piece of equipment in a circuit, the current is turned on and the suspected equipment is bridged by applying the contact members ii and 30 to terminal posts, or open 2 wires near each side of the equipment, if said equipment is faulty the current will flow through the lamp bulb 23 which will light up, showing that the rest of the circuit is in order and that the suspected equipment requires repair or replacement. If a contact is to be made with an insulated wire and it is not desired to strip said insulation, the wire may be placed in the notch 9 of the contact member 5 and the cap 25 pressed, which pressure will cause the pointed rod [4 to pierce the insulation and contact the wire, so that the current may flow from the wire through the rod it, the socket 2b, the lamp bulb 23, the wire 28, back to the circuit being tested.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. A circuit tester comprising a hollow dielectric casin having a cylindrical contact member at one end, said member being open at one end to the casing and having a transverse Wire receiving notch, a metallic lamp socket slidable within the casing, said socket having an opening adapted to receive a lamp bulb, a wire connected to the lamp socket and extending outwardly of the casing to form a second contact member and a rod normally engaging a terminal of the lamp bulb in the socket and extending through the casing and the bore of the cylindrical contact to enter the notch of the first named contact member as the lamp socket is moved in one direction in the casing.

2. A circuit tester comprising a hollow dielectric casing having a cylindrical contact member at one end, said member being open at one end to the casing and having a transverse Wire receiving notch, a metallic lamp socket slidable within the casing, said socket having an opening adapted to receive a lamp bulb, a wire connected to the lamp socket and extending outwardly of the casing to form a second contact member, a rod normally engaging a terminal of the lamp bulb in the socket and extending through the casing and the bore of the cylindrical contact to enter the notch of the first named contact member as the lamp socket is moved in one diretcion in the casing, and a translucent cap slidably movable within the casing, said cap being adapted to engage the lamp socket to impart movement to it and to enclose the lamp, and means for urging the socket away from the first mentioned con tact member.

3. A circuit tester comprising a hollow dielectric casing, a metallic lamp bulb socket slidable in the casing, a cylindrical contact member extending concentrically through the base of the casing and having a transverse notch, a metallic rod extending through said cylindrical contact member and into the notch, said rod being adapted to normally engage the centre terminal of a lamp within the socket, said socket being adapted to form a connection with the screw terminal of the lamp, a contact wire connecting the socket and extending outwardly through the casing, and means for urging the rod away from the notch.

4. A circuit tester comprising a hollow dielectric casing, a metallic lamp bulb socket slidable in the casing, a cylindrical contact member extending concentrically through the base of the casing and having a transverse notch, a metallic rod extending through said cylindrical contact member and into the notch, said rod being adapted to normally engage the centre terminal of a lamp within the socket, said socket being adapted to form a connection with the screw terminal of the lamp, a contact wire connecting the socket and extending outwardly through the casing,

- and means for urging the rod away from the notch, said cylindrical contact being covered with insulating material from the casing to a point beyond the transverse notch.

ENIILE DES ROCHES. 

